Chakwera secures K45bn for ultra-poor
President Lazarus Chakwera has secured about K45 billion on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA to assist the most disadvantaged households through the Social Cash Transfer Programme.
The State House Press Office said in a statement yesterday that the President secured the money during a meeting Rory Stewart, the president of GiveDirectly, a non-profit organisation operating in Africa and dedicated to providing unconditional cash transfers to families living in dire poverty.
The statement quoted Stewart as having said his organisation was active in Malawi for several years, extending financial assistance to impoverished households.
the meeting yesterday
“This year, we are allocating a substantial $42 million to support the people of Malawi,” he said.
The funds were sourced from various international partners, including those from Australia, the United States of America and Europe.
In response, Chakwera thanked GiveDirectly, stressing that the financial injection was a substantial boost, especially at a time when Malawi was grappling with the unprecedented aftermath of Cyclone Freddy.
He said: “My administration is deeply grateful to you for your contribution, and GiveDirectly can count on my personal support for its work in Malawi.
“Malawi suffered unprecedented devastation from Tropical Cyclone Freddy in March 2023. The aftermath of the cyclone has led to many challenges, including a greater risk of malnutrition in Southern Malawi, especially affecting vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.”
GiveDirectly, as part of the Step Wealth Creation Project, continues to provide social cash transfers in Malawi.
The efforts are currently benefiting a total of one million people across regions, including Karonga, Chitipa, Mchinji, Kasungu, Dowa, Lilongwe, Machinga, Chikwawa, and Nsanje districts.
During a meeting with Stewart at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe last October, the President appealed to GiveDirectly to consider increasing their financial commitment to the programme.
At the time, he assured GiveDirectly that his administration would formulate a national social cash transfer initiative aimed at empowering citizens and fostering sustainable wealth creation to lift them out of extreme poverty.
